New Delhi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has been able to protect its bastion from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Earlier on Saturday, as vote counting started, the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra was apparently leading. Around 1,300 kilometers away in Jharkhand, the BJP-led NDA was also marching ahead. However, as more trends trickled in, JMM and its partners, that formed the INDIA bloc, took the lead.
Later as hours went by, the trends indicated that the INDIA bloc was poised for a massive victory in Jharkhand, where tribal votes play a vital role in deciding the success of national parties. So, after trailing in the first few rounds, JMM-led INDIA bloc made a comeback. As it did so, the JMM’s official handle posted on X: “How’s the josh?”. It referred to the remarkable chase and eventual surpassing of the NDA’s numbers.
How’s the Josh? pic.twitter.com/uwGxOv46NV
— Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (@JmmJharkhand) November 23, 2024
“How’s the josh” is a line from the 2019 Bollywood film ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’, which has turned into a popular catchphrase. It is often used by various public figures and has gained huge traction on social media platforms.
The BJP had raised concerns about illegal immigrants entering Jharkhand, claiming they posed a threat to the indigenous population. However, it didn’t strike a chord with the local masses.
Few months back, Soren was put behind bars in a land case. He had to quit as CM before he was sent to jail. Later, he came back from jail and took back the Chief Minister’s seat once again. The JMM had alleged that the Centre was involved in vendetta politics. This may have made the voters sympathetic towards Soren.
